Description
Panel One: Low angle of the fencing practice area. Two students in the middle of sparring are startled and turning to look at a dark figure as it steps into the frame. SFX: >step< Only a small part of the figure can be seen. They are wearing black, and there's a long, ornate parrying dagger hanging on their left hip. The sword frog is of black leather, and has a Gothic metal accent. SFX: >gasp< >whisper< >whisper<
Panel Two: Medium shot of Cal and Zane. Cal is looking at Zane, who has turned away and started walking again. "It's the headmaster," Cal says. Unseen by Cal but visible to the viewer, Zane's expression is sad. "Yeah," he says, "Let's... Start walking."
Panel Three: Full-body view of Headmaster Johannes, standing ominously with his hands behind his back. He's dressed in his usual all-black clothes, including his uniform cloak. His steel gorget is almost entirely hidden under the cloak. In place of his beaked mask is a fencing mask with a black hood. His face is hidden by the mesh. At his waist is a plain black belt, with a sword frog hanging from each side. On his left hip is the parrying dagger from before; on his right is a rapier with a cup hilt. The weapons have black handles and goldtone fittings.
Panel Four: Head and shoulder shot from behind the fencing elite and the Headmaster. The Elite, also dressed in all black, has a wooden practice sword on her shoulder, and looks up in surprise. "Oh!" she says, "I didn't see you, sir." Without looking at her, the headmaster answers, "I noticed."
Panel Five: Portrait view of DJ in the forground, fastening a white cloak of the same pattern as his uniform over his shoulders. He's now wearing a white fencing mask just like his fellow students, and looking over his shoulder. His face is partially visible through the mask, and he's glaring. Beyond DJ, standing at the barrier of the separate practice area that he's in, are the headmaster and the elite. Behind them are two students who have stopped sparring and now have their attention on the headmaster. "Is Darwin ready?" asks the Headmaster. "I believe so, sir," says the Elite.
Panel Six: Cal and Zane again. Cal looks worried as he catches up to Zane. "Zane, what's going on?" he asks. Zane is glaring now, presumably looking down at the fencing area. "You'll see," he answers.
Author Note
Heeeey, it's everyone's favorite person.
Wonderful. :/
He must practice his menacing aura in the mirror or something, I swear. Also, I chose to call the fencing master an "Elite" in the comic because that's a non-gendered term. I kept the traditional all-black uniform of fencing masters, though. Before anyone asks, yes, the Headmaster is also an Elite.
The past week has been a doozy! ^_^ I'm both good and "oof, can I slow down a sec?" ways. First off, it was the kiddo's 14th birthday! AND she had a school concert that same day, and had to do three solos, including one that she wrote. So, uhm, yeah - It's a lot anyway, but imagine doing that alone. I've always had mad respect for single parents, and having to take care of everything without my wife being here has only bolstered that respect. Hopefully she'll be cleared to come home in a week! ^_^ We can't wait to see her!
- Bran
